Bad news for high bit rate fans.

rbbert · « **Reply #140 on:** 12 Mar 2012, 10:28 pm »

Think about it; for 100 albums (all old enough to have analog masters, and therefore probably none over 40 minutes long) you'll pay at least $30,000, and most likely more. Are there even 100 titles available?

TONEPUB · « **Reply #141 on:** 12 Mar 2012, 10:32 pm »

And that's my point. I would find a way to get the $$ if it were my 100 favorite recordings. But not for this collection. I love tape and think it's really cool. Still have my Nakamichi Dragon for when I feel like making a mix tape.

It's not the tape purveyors fault, tape costs x amount of dollars, packaging and licensing fees.

Devil Doc · « **Reply #142 on:** 12 Mar 2012, 10:34 pm »

Seems to me I remember someone who spent $10,000 on a phono cartridge getting indignant because his sanity was questioned. Guy wants to buy and use an RTR, more power to him. "Ain't nobody's business but his own".

Doc

rbbert · « **Reply #143 on:** 12 Mar 2012, 10:58 pm »

Quote from: Devil Doc on 12 Mar 2012, 10:34 pm

Seems to me I remember someone who spent $10,000 on a phono cartridge getting indignant because his sanity was questioned. Guy wants to buy and use an RTR, more power to him. "Ain't nobody's business but his own".

Doc

True, of course, but he seemed to be proposing it as a replacement for SACD and hires downloads, Blurays, etc, and it's clearly not.

audiobat · « **Reply #144 on:** 12 Mar 2012, 11:05 pm »

No not a replacement just simply better sounding, no not as much content or as easy to use, just sounds better.
That's it in a nutshell.

Vinyl wear cycle tests? WTF?

Thanks Devil Doc, why does one have to be lambasted here for trying to achieve the best sound possible. And scorned for spending money to get that ultimate sound? I got a wife for that!

I am getting sick of hearing that all this cheap equipment (and digital) is somehow better than maybe a more expensive product.
Bull hockey, I have found that the vast majority of the time you get what you pay for.
I have an expensive system and I really don't care if I pay THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS each (because that's what they cost) for 100 tapes.
No problema!

Wayner · « **Reply #145 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 12:19 am »

Doc hit the nail on the head with this comment. Perhaps the 10K cartridge didn't make everything wonderful after all........

W

JerryM · « **Reply #146 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 03:19 am »

I think this Thread should be made a sticky.

Now that it has more Replies than only one past sticky, and will clearly hold its own on the Views piece, I think this one should be nailed down.

DustyC · « **Reply #147 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 03:49 am »

I agree on the sticky. Although I'll be curious to see if Frank adds higher resolution capability to his DAC units due to customer requests. That's how IEC and balanced connections became options even though he felt they weren't necessary.

JerryM · « **Reply #148 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 04:03 am »

Quote from: DustyC on 13 Mar 2012, 03:49 am

I agree on the sticky. Although I'll be curious to see if Frank adds higher resolution capability to his DAC units...

AVA DACs have had high resolution ability for a while.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #149 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 04:42 am »

Quote from: Wayner on 13 Mar 2012, 12:19 am

Doc hit the nail on the head with this comment. Perhaps the 10K cartridge didn't make everything wonderful after all........
W

Actually Wayner, you miss the point again. The 10k cartridge is beyond awesome. I even bought a Titan i for my other table so the Atlas will last a little longer.

The point I was trying to make with RTR is that it sounds great and I love tape. I just think it's very frustrating to buy something that cool that you really can't enjoy because there isn't any software. And, the others that have promised more software haven't been able to deliver.

For the price of 20-30 obscure tape titles, about 3/4 of my 6000 LP collection will sound than it ever has. Of the 75 records I've listened to with it so far, only three aren't making the grade. And any of the new records that are great pressings only add to that experience. For the ones that don't, there's always the Ortofon SPU or the Koetsu Urushi.

I just wish someone could do tape right and with a meaningful catalog. I have NOTHING against tape, or anyone buying a tape machine. That's not really a big expense in the scheme of things. It's not about the money. It's about having a limiting experience.

audiobat · « **Reply #150 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 01:26 pm »

I submit... That the average audiophile actually plays only 15 to 20 percent of their music collection.
The reason is they are looking for two things, that magic combination of the sound and (sometimes second) the music that will sound great on their particular system. They may like a certain album but the highs aren't just right, or the bass isn't correct, so it doesn't get played.

I have Arnold Overtures on CD and I listened once or twice, not really a fan of the music. However I heard it on tape at the RMAF and was glued to my chair, could not move through the entire tape.

Back in 1970 or so I had a buddy that had an open reel deck and a Dynaco tube amp with some speakers he made and actually hung from the corners of his room with wires. I still remember that system slamming with Black Sabbath and James Gang, even back then with home made speakers it had a special and different sound.

There are actual master tapes from various sources being sold on Ebay and they are not all that expensive, a few hundred bucks.
I even saw a Black Sabbath master tape a few months ago, Masters of Reality! This adds to the selection, diversity, and possibility of coming across a real gem I say.

I am not going to give up my vinyl any time soon, but I see no reason not to enhance my systems sound with a more exciting (and from what I have heard better sounding) format.

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #151 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 02:51 pm »

Quote from: audiobat on 13 Mar 2012, 01:26 pm

I submit... That the average audiophile actually plays only 15 to 20 percent of their music collection.

Curious as to where that number came from...?

D.D.

werd · « **Reply #152 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 03:16 pm »

Quote from: Diamond Dog on 13 Mar 2012, 02:51 pm

Curious as to where that number came from...?

D.D.

From the magical mystery number tour

martyo · « **Reply #153 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 03:25 pm »

Quote from: audiobat

I submit... That the average audiophile actually plays only 15 to 20 percent of their music collection.

Quote from: Diamind Dog

Curious as to where that number came from...?

Quote from: werd on 13 Mar 2012, 03:16 pm

From the magical mystery number tour

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #154 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 04:14 pm »

Quote from: werd on 13 Mar 2012, 03:16 pm

From the magical mystery number tour

Werd: I think I know where he got that number from but I'd need a flashlight and a proctologist to know for sure...

D.D.

charmerci · « **Reply #155 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 04:47 pm »

Quote from: audiobat on 13 Mar 2012, 01:26 pm

I submit... That the average audiophile actually plays only 15 to 20 percent of their music collection.

I listen to music all the time. I've listened to everything that I own many hundreds of times. But I guess that I'm not average anyway....

Chromisdesigns · « **Reply #156 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 05:13 pm »

Quote from: charmerci on 13 Mar 2012, 04:47 pm

I listen to music all the time. I've listened to everything that I own many hundreds of times. But I guess that I'm not average anyway....

I listen to a lot more of my collection now that it's all digital, for a couple reasons.

First, it's much easier to "flip" through the collection on the SB Touch and see something I haven't heard for a while, and also when I am not "listening seriously" I've been putting the whole collection on random play. This turns out to be fun, turning up tracks I can't remember listening to in a long while. And, of course, if one comes up I don't want, I just hit the "next track" button on the remote.

I've also been using our iPad and an old iPhone 3G as Squeezebox controllers, which makes the whole thing seamless from my favorite couch.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #157 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 06:22 pm »

I think that's an excellent point. I also listen to a lot more of my collection now that I've had the Sooloos for a number of years.

It's also why I don't think anyone actually knows just how long vinyl DOES last, because really, how many of your records have actually gotten 100 plays or 500 plays? I'll bet not that many.

I'm curious to see what our extended wear experiment will reveal...

Wayner · « **Reply #158 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 07:49 pm »

I've had some of my records since I was at least 18 and that puts them at 40+ years old. I'm pretty much convinced that records are actually pretty robust considering everything, and the only caveat is that they always seem to have small "accidents" happen to them.

With a properly tracking, lower VTF cartridge, proper anti-skate and VTA, there shouldn't be any reason why you can't get hundreds of plays without detectable wear. I should also add that good cleaning habits would play a large role in record life.

W

TONEPUB · « **Reply #159 on:** 13 Mar 2012, 08:02 pm »

What I'm curious to find out, considering how much many of us buy used records, is how does a record hold up when these criteria are not met...

I'm guessing that 98% of the record buying public did not have a properly tracking, etc etc setup.

We will get to the bottom of this.